microRNA

M3I1C3R1O1R1N1A1

noun

A single-stranded, non-coding form of RNA, having only about 20-30 nucleotides, that has a number of functions including the regulation of gene expression

OriginEnglish RNA ← Ancient Greek μῑκρο- (mīkro-) ← Proto-Indo-European *mey-der.? →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

nounmicroRNA (plural microRNAs)

plural microRNAs

  1. biologyA single-stranded, non-coding form of RNA, having only about 20-30 nucleotides, that has a number of functions including the regulation of gene expression

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
microribonucleic acidmilrna

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*mey-der.?
  2. Ancient Greekμῑκρός (mīkrós)
  3. Ancient Greekμῑκρο- (mīkro-)
  4. Englishmicro-
  5. EnglishRNA
  6. EnglishmicroRNA

From micro- + RNA.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

cimarronramicorn
Cite this entry
APA

microRNA. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/microRNA

MLA

“microRNA.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/microRNA. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “microRNA,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/microRNA.

Source: microRNA on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.